Valencia is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean coast. Once the capital of its own kingdom, it is the third largest city in the country and the capital of the Valencian Autonomous Community, Communidad Valenciana. It lies approximately 350 km of Madrid and Barcelona, surrounded by orange orchards and sandy beaches, immersed between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Valencia is one of the most important cities of Spain, visited annually by millions of tourists thanks to the wealth and variety of attractions and places or interest it offers. From the historic centre to the fabulous beaches, to parks that make it one of the greenest cities in Europe, to the construction of the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences.

València is a city full of magic. When you are there, you get to have unforgettable experiences and feel right at home. The welcoming and open nature of its people make València one of those destinations that always calls you back. Valencia’s mild climate is another reason to come and stay. Its warm atmosphere is always inviting and hospitable. Ready to be enjoyed. Valencia means commerce and culture, cinema, theatre, museums, music, and business. It is a centre for industrial design and avant-garde movements.

Highlights and Attractions

Visit "Ciutat de les Arts y les Ciencies"

Modern Valencia was born after the great flood of 1957 of Turia river, a moment in which it was decided to divert the course of the river and build in its place, an extraordinary urban park.

Since then, many projects have been carried out to turn Valencia into a European capital of modern architecture. The most famous work is the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava, which occupies the stretch section towards the sea of the old course of the Turia River, near the Alameda Bridge. Also located here the Oceanogràfic, designed by Calatrava with master Felix Candela, the cinema Hemisfèric, the Science Museum, Palau de les Arts, Paseo de L'Umbracle and the new space Ágora for events. Among other famous contemporary projects, we must remember the spaces and port facilities for the America's Cup, with the America's Cup Building, also known locally as Veles e Vents designed by British architect David Chipperfield. On the other side of the city, is located the new Congress Centre of the renowned architect Norman Foster.

Visit the city centre

The historic centre of Valencia “Ciutat Vella” in its layout of quiet streets and squares, combines the testimony of a history of more than two thousand years with the liveliness of the markets and its shops, as well as the attractive cafes and restaurants. Ciutat Vella is made up of six neighbourhood, each one characterised by a strong personality: La Seu, La Xerea, El Carmen, El Pilar and El Mercat de Sant Francesc. Here are all the important monuments and buildings of the city. The Roman remains in the archaeological excavations of the Almoina. The churches: the Cathedral, Basilica of the Virgin, Santa Catalina, San Juan del Hospital, San Juan del Mercado and Basilica de los Desamparados. The evidence of its military and commercial importance: Torres de Serrano, Torres de Quart, Lonja de la Seda. The Public Administration buildings: the Town Hall, the Palace of the Generalitat Valenciana, the Corts Valencianas. The headquarters of Finance and Commerce: the Valencia Stock Exchange (Palace of of Boil de Arenós), the Central market. Museums and cultural centres: the IVAM, the MUVIM, Ceramics Museum, Museum of the 19th century and Centro Cultural la Beneficencia.

A less known fact about Valencia is that it is home to The Holy Grail. Historians worldwide agree that the authentic Cup used in the Last Supper is held in the Valencia Cathedral and it is the only relic known as the Holy Grail that the Vatican officially recognises. Along with Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela, the Vatican has designated Valencia as one of the world’s ‘Eight Holy Cities’ and as a ‘City of the Holy Grail’. Two Popes, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, have held mass in Valencia with the chalice.

Visit "Malvarrosa Beach"

Do not leave without immersing yourself in València’s two iconic beaches, Malvarrosa Beach and Arenas Beach, which are known for their fine sand and pleasant waters. Malvarrosa Beach is located in the fishing district of Cabanyal. (Fishing is actually one of the oldest jobs in València, and this enclave keeps its heritage and customs intact.) Arenas Beach, which combines old Mediterranean traditions with the pleasures of a modern-day beach, is located next to the marina.

Lifestyle

Marina Beach Club

Marina Beach Club has become the fashion space in Valencia. A space that has already enjoyed more than a million people since its opening in 2016. This leisure and dining complex is located on the border between La Marina de Valencia and the beach of Las Arenas, a privileged enclave where you can enjoy the best views of the Mediterranean. Tradition and avant-garde come together to offer the best and most varied gastronomic offer. Marina Restaurante blends modern, avant-garde, and innovative cuisine with the essence of the Mediterranean culinary tradition. Its menu offers a wide variety of rice dishes, Valencian fresh products from fish wholesaler or meats with designation of origin. El Portet Restaurante is the seafood restaurant, on the beach you can enjoy the best quality Valencian rice dishes carefully presented, fish and seafood watered with renowned national and international wines. Also in the pool area you can enjoy the restaurant service with dishes such as hamburgers or sandwiches, as well as a wide range of drinks and shishas, ​​and the best offer of oriental dishes and sushi from Tatami Japanese Food.

Umbracle

• L'Umbracle by day

L'Umbracle is a beautiful garden located in the grounds of the City of Arts and Sciences. It is a rather peculiar place since the garden is covered by some arcades (some fixed, others floating) 18 meters high that form a transparent roof. Palm trees and other typical plants of the Mediterranean and the Tropics dominate the garden. The cosy garden of l'Umbracle is also a fantastic viewpoint where you can relax with stunning views of the buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences. In the interior of the Umbracle, you can also visit the Paseo del Arte for free where works by contemporary artists, mostly sculptures, are exhibited. Another exciting space of the Umbracle is the Garden of Astronomy, admission is free, where you can learn about astronomical instruments and astrological phenomena while having fun. This space is especially popular among the little ones because they enjoy playing with the gnomon that helps calculate the solar time through our shadow.

• L'Umbracle at night

L'Umbracle by day is a beautiful garden, while at night it functions as a lounge-style disco called l'Umbracle Terraza, considered one of the best places to party in the city of Valencia. This outdoor disco is especially popular in the hottest months, when it is full of Valencians, and also tourists, wanting to party in such an exceptional environment. It is an exclusive place where you can also reserve a spot in the VIP area for the party.

Events

Las Fallas

The most popular and famous festivals are the Fallas, in which, since the beginning of the 18th century, the whole city joins and attracts many tourists. From 1st to 19th March, an increase of events culminated on the night of San José; spectacles, pyrotechnic explosions, exhibition of large sculptures of papier-mâché and wood - Las Fallas. On the night of March 19th, las Fallas are burned creating high and impressive bonfires, saving only one, chosen by visitors, which will be kept in the Fallas
Museum.

More important celebrations

The calendar of the Valencian religious tradition includes many other events. Among them, the Easter processions, the festivity of St. Vincent and the procession of Virgen de los Desamparados the second Sunday of every May.

Theatrical performances, concerts, bands contest, bullfights, fireworks and a battle of flowers mark each year the Festival programme in July.

Gastronomy

When it comes to gastronomy Valencia offers a wide selection of cosy restaurants, open until late in the evening, where you can taste the local specialities as well as international cuisine. Valencia boasts 35 Michelin restaurants including one 3-star restaurant, one 2-star restaurant and one 2-star and Michelin green restaurant for gastronomy and sustainability. Paella, the famous Spanish dish known throughout the world, was created in Valencia, rice is the staple of other typical dishes of the regions gastronomy: l’arroz al horno - the baked rice, l’arroz a banda - to fish stock, l´arroz negre –black - rice with squid ink, and Fideuá. The Valencian cuisine is balanced, located between the sea and mountains, offering a wide variety of both meat and fish dishes. The variety of sweets, many of which maintain the Arab influence, is wide and original. The Horchata is a traditional drink very refreshing, water based, sugar and the Tiger nut, tuber of a local plant.

Schools

University of Valencia

The University of Valencia is a university located in the Spanish city of Valencia. It is one of the oldest surviving universities in Spain, and the oldest in the Valencian Community, and is regarded as one of Spain's leading academic institutions. The University was founded in 1499, and currently has around 55,000 students. Most of the courses are given through the medium of Spanish, but the university has promised to increase the number of courses available in Valencian. Moreover, in some degrees part of the teaching is in English.

The University of Valencia has three main urban campuses located in Valencia city and in Burjassot-Paterna, and some other buildings and facilities in the hearth of Valencia town, such as the Historic Building, Botanical Garden, Cerveró Palace, the Rectorate and others.

• The Burjassot Campus houses the colleges of Biology, Pharmacy, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and the School of Engineering.
• On the Avenida de Blasco Ibañez Campus the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Philosophy and Educational Sciences, Psychology, Geography and History, Languages, Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Nursing.
• The third campus, Tarongers, houses the Schools of Law, Economics and Business, Social Sciences, and recently the School of Elementary Teacher Training, which moved from its previous location near the Blasco Ibañez Campus.

Polytechnic University of Valencia

The Polytechnic University of Valencia is a Spanish university located in Valencia, with a focus on science and technology. It was founded in 1968 as the Higher Polytechnic School of Valencia and became a university in 1971, but some of its schools are more than 100 years old.

The Universitat Politècnica de València consists of three campuses: (Valencia, Gandia and Alcoy) and 14 schools and faculties: Faculty of Business Administration and Management, Faculty of Fine Arts, Higher Polytechnic School of Alcoy, Higher Polytechnic School of Gandia, School of Agricultural Engineering, School of Computer Science, School of Architecture, School of Building Management, School of Civil Engineering, School of Design Engineering, School of Engineering in Geodesy, School of Cartography and Surveying, School of Industrial Engineering, School of Rural Environments and Enology, and School of Telecommunications Engineering.

The university offers 48 bachelor's and master's degrees, and 81 doctoral degrees.